Iiaf-sidind beacket gauge



May 29. 1928,

H. SMITH LAP SIDING BRACKET GAUGE Filed Ot. 4. 1926 INVENTOR Herman 15/72/271 TTORNEY Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES HERMAN SMITH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

LAP-SIDING BRACKET GAUGE.

1 Application filed October 4, 1926. Serial No. 139,332.

This invention relates to a combined gauge and bracket for use by carpenters in applying lap-siding to a building.

The invention consist-s in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, whereby important advantages are gained, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bracketgauge embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown applied.

Referring to the drawing, the device is provided with a bracket member comprising a thin bar 5 of metal having a longitudinal slot 6 and with its upper end formed to provide a forwardly directed shelf 7, which constitutes the bracket proper. This shelf is disposed at approximately right angles to the plane of the bar and has its front edge turned upwardly as at 8. Fitting against the rear surface of said bar is a clamping frame comprising a plate 9 which is provided adjacent its lower end with a post element 10 extending forwardly through the bar slot 6.

Also extending through said slot is a bolt 11 which is screw threaded to receive a winged nut 12 which acts against the bar or, as shown, through the medium of a washer 1.3 for the purpose of securingthe bar to the clamping frame at a selected elevation. The spaced apart post 10 and bolt 11, serve as guides in said slot permitting relative endwise movement of the frame and bar for adjusting the device.

The frame plate 9 is formed. or provided at its lower end with a rearwardly directed element 14:, hereinafter termed the stop which is arranged at approximately right angles to the plate part 9. The rear portion of said stop is cut to provide an upturned element which is disposed parallel, or nearly so, with the frame part 9.

Such upturned portion of the stop is bifurcated and tapered toward the top to provide teeth 15 (Fig. 2) which are adaptedto be engaged in the interstice between the butt end of a piece 16 of siding of one course and apiece 17 of lap-sidingof the course next below.

Cooperable with said teeth for detachably clamping the carrier frame to the work is a spur element 18 extending rearwardly from near the lower end of an arm 19 which is pivotally connected at 20 to the upper portion of the plate 9 at one side of the bar 5. The arm 19 is formed of a resilient material to serve as a spring for retaining the spur 1.8 in engageable relation with the work when the arm occupies the position in which it is represented by full lines in Fig. 1; and serving to cause the spur to bear against the frame plate when the arm is swung into its dotted line 19 position.

The device is adjusted by securing the frame 9 to the bar 5 in such relation that the distance between the stop element 14 of the frame and the top of the shelf element 7 of the bracket member will be equal to the width of the siding piece it is desired to be exposed to the weather. Such adjusting or setting of the device is facilitated by the provision of a measuring scale as denoted by 92, Fig. 1, provided upon the bar 5 and to selected markings of which the lower edge of the frame is brought. In use, after the first course of siding is secured to a wall, the siding pieces of each succeeding course is regulated and held in position for securing by engaging the stop 14 against the under edge of a preceding course, as 16, with the fingers 15 caught in the interstice between such edge and the outer surface of the siding, as 17, of the course next below; such engagement of the stop and fingers, being accomplished by upwardly directed blows of a hammer against the post 10. With the frame thus secured the succeeding course as indicated by dotted lines 20 is supported upon the shelf 7 ready to be nailed in place. The device is simple in construction and in its adjustment and convenient to use.

WVhat I claim, is,

A gauge of the character described com-- prising, in combination, a bracket member consisting of longitudinally slotted bar with a shelf element at one end thereof, a frame member consisting of a plate formed to pro vide a plane portion with a stop element extending at substantially right angles from an end of said plane, said stop element terminating in a finger element disposed .in substantially parallel relation with the plane portion of the frame member, said stop element serving to engage the work against upward movement of the device, spaced apart means rigid with the frame plate and extending through the slot of said bar for guiding the latter, one of said bar guiding meansserving as a post adapted 'to receive otallyeonnected to the frame member wherehammer-blows for adjusting the frame to by'the arm is adaptedto' be swlangi laterally 10 engage said finger element in the Work, to present the spur thereof into position to means engaging the otherof said bar guide be safeguarded-by the frame and into work ing means for clamping said bracket mempenetrating position selectively.

her in relatively adjusted relation to the Signedat Seattle, Washington, this 4th frame member, and an arm provided at one day of September, 1926. of its ends with a spur, said arm beingpiv- HERMAN SMITH. 

